Stewardship

Something inspirational that Nancy and I experienced last Sunday in worship as church members (and non-members) came forward to place our estimates for giving in a basket. This physical movement forward, together with fellow congregants, was visually symbolic of our collective response to God in sharing our blessings for the benefit of the work of the church we all love.

“Estimates of Giving” forms were mailed out the previous week. The pastor reminded us through a children’s message and sermon of the JOY that comes in returning to God from blessings received. As the members and friends of the church came down the center aisle with “Estimates of Giving”, I found myself watching and contemplating the importance of sharing our blessings – time and talents and money – with God with every step we take and every breath of air we breathe. It is a genuine joy to return to God from blessings received.

The symbolism of this physical motion was not lost.

We joyfully give to the church so we can participate, together, in worship in giving glory to God.

We joyfully give to the church in order to hear and respond to inspirational sermons.

We joyfully give so the children and youth can learn more about God and Christ in Church School

We joyfully give so that those who are hurting or in need of special help can receive pastoral care.

We joyfully give so that people who are less fortunate can partake of many blessings through the mission work of the church.

We joyfully give so that the church, as a large family, can enjoy being in fellowship together.

This final thought: A blessing really doesn’t have much value for me and my family unless I can find a way to share it with others. Giving to the church is an excellent way to share our blessings with others.

In what ways have you found to share your blessings with others through the work of the church?

** Nancy and I are now worshipping at the Second Presbyterian Church of Saginaw, MI.

I anjoyed this article by Jao Cho from Tampa, Florida. had an impact on me. We are called within the context of community to be stewards of all God has entrusted our care. We are called to be stewards of all life. Rev. Jao Cho says:

Thankfully, through my experience at Church of All Nations, I have learned a new way of understanding what it means to be rich. I have found a treasure that “neither moth nor rust consumes” and that can never be bought or stolen from me. I have discovered the joy living together in intentional Christian community.

Which world do we chose to live? The profit-driven, individualized, high tech “I want to get rich” world? Or the God-driven/Christ centered world where we learn to place our resources next to those things God calls us in life to value? Enjoy this article that comes from a young pastor who os “right on” with what he has to say!

For readers of this blog: Specifically, in what ways are you giving glory to God? I have been thinking about this question. Have I been using what God has entrusted my care? These are questions I have been contemplating after reading what has become my “favorite quote for the week”. Written by N.T. Wright, Surprised by Scripture, and found on FB on April 30th:
“Glory is not simply a kind of luminescence, as though the point of salvation were that we would eventually shine like electric lightbulbs. Glory means, among other things, rule and power and authority; as other writers (notably Saint John the Divine) make clear, part of the point of God’s saving his people is that they are destined not merely to enjoy a relaxing endless vacation in a place called heaven, but that they are designed to be God’s stewards, ruling over the whole creation with healing and restorative justice and love.”

“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11: 36

Psalm 126

A Harvest of Joy

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,* we were like those who dream. 2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. 5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. 6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

Ephesians 5: 18b-20

…….18be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 16: 25-27

25Now to God* who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom* be the glory for ever! Amen.*

SERMON

There are pastors who are quite vocal in saying they don’t like to preach “Stewardship”! I am quite the opposite. I have always felt such avoidance of this topic of stewardship is paramount to avoiding the gospel. The gospels speak clearly and often about our returning to God from the abundance of blessings, including life itself, entrusted our care.

As we celebrate all in life that belongs to God we gather to worship in giving glory to God for everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) God has entrusted our use and our care:

SOLI DEO GLORIA! GLORY, ALONE, TO GOD!

Our scriptural grounding for this stewardship season in the church comes from Ephesians 5 verses 18b-20:

…….18be filled with the Spirit, 19as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Give thanks for everything in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. We do this each week in gathering together for worship in this sacred place to sing to God:

“Praise God for whom all blessings flow

Praise God all creatures here below;

Praise God above ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!”

(#592 Hymnal)

Or as another hymn we often sing says:

“We give thee but Thine own,

What – e’re the gift may be;

All that we have is Thine alone,

A trust O Lord, from Thee”

(#428 Hymnal)

In giving glory to God for blessings received, I will be preaching these next few weeks on what God has entrusted our care and what we return to God with our tithes and offerings. Today I will be focusing on the traditional categories the church has used for years in thinking about stewardship….

First, our returning to God a portion of the “time” God has given us,

Second, our use of “talents” from God given skills and talents, and

Third, our use of “money”, in returning to God a portion of what has enriched us financially.

Lastly, what do we return to God from what God has placed in our hearts? The “heart-felt passion” we have for Christ’s Church!

And yes, this is what giving glory to God is all about! According to biblical scholar N.T. Wright in his book Surpirsed by Scripture:

Glory is not simply a kind of luminescence, as though the point of salvation were that we would eventually shine like electric lightbulbs. Glory means, among other things, rule and power and authority; as other writers (notably Saint John the Divine) make clear, part of the point of God’s saving his people is that they are destined not merely to enjoy a relaxing endless vacation in a place called heaven, but that they are designed to be God’s stewards, ruling over the whole creation with healing and restorative justice and love.” FB post 4/30/14

So in getting started:

II. Stewardship of Time

Stewardship of time. Tick-tock, tick-tock! One precious gift God gives all of us in equal proportion from the time we are born until we die: TIME.

An interesting comments I hear concerning time: “I just don’t have enough time!” or “I can’t find time to do one more thing!” or “I’m too busy!” And I hear this often in this church: “I’m too old!” In all honesty, do we ever lack in having enough time for the things we truly love or impassioned to be doing?

Stewardship of time. Each of us has to make decisions each and every day as to how we are going to invest or spend or prioritize the use of our God-given time. We all take time for sleep. We take time for meals in bringing nourishment to our bodies. We value time spent with family and friends. We also enjoy time in drinking that favorite cup of coffee or reading that favorite paper or book. There is time spent with a host of activities, whether at work or at play, that is “discretionary” – things we choose to do or want to do as opposed to time spent in things we feel obligated to be doing.

An example and not to embarrass anybody, we have two individuals who come down to this church almost every week to do some cleaning. This is not a glamorous job. These two individuals put in countless hours in keeping this building looking good. Not speaking for these two individuals, but I wonder to what extent ANYBODY feels obligated to come to this church to do all the many things all of you do to serve their Lord? I know this is discretionary time. These two individuals could probably find other things to be doing in different places. But they are here. They are stewards of the time God has given them returning a portion of this time to the church!

I could give a dozen examples of those of you who do the same…..who come to this church to do things behind the scenes as stewards of time. I am guessing, if they didn’t truly love this church, they wouldn’t be here!

Stewardship of time. One of the most valuable gifts we can return to God is the seventh day, the time we invest with God and worship. In fact it doesn’t cost a cent to clear our schedules to take time for worship in giving “Glory to God” for blessings received.

Seriously, one of my greatest fears for you and this church in this time of transition: All the leaders of this church who will be spending countless hours in helping this church through the transition in searching for a new pastor, will need your support simply by being here for worship. There will be lots of different things to do with our various ministry teams, but nothing can move forward without a total commitment to be together once a week as a church family….in worship….in giving Glory to God for this church and all the blessings we have received through this church.

From Psalm 95

“2 Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to God with songs of praise! 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods…..6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 7 For God is our God, and we are the people of God’s pasture, and the sheep of God’s hand.”

III. Stewardship of Talents

Stewardship of Talents. Closely related to the time we offer God are the talents we use as an investment in helping the church. The two volunteers who help clean, the members of ministry teams making phone calls to secure guest preachers; the session in holding special meetings; deacons making extra calls – I give thanks to God knowing that so many of you are using your talents in making sure this transition is as smooth as possible. And for those of you who feel you can not longer do anything? Just picking up a phone to call someone to say they have been missed in worship – what a wonderful gift!

Have you heard me refer to a “Talent Bank”? Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church has its own talent “Talent Bank” and all of you have already made deposits!

Literally, if God has given each of us talents to deposit in our personal “talent bank” account for future use, what portion of these talents do we use in support of the church?

We often think in terms of giving tithes and offerings when it comes to money. What about the tithes and offerings we offer God with the use of time and talents?

Some illustrations on what you can do in using some of your talents:

+ If you have a passion and some talent to share in helping this church make plans for the future, consider joining one of the church Ministry Teams.

+ If you have a talent in working with children, you can find a few hours to help with the nursery or church school.

+ If your talent is in working with finance, you can join with others in helping out on the church Management Team

+ If your talent is fixing and repairing things, I am sure Charles and the Facilities Team could use some help.

+ If you like gardening or doing outside work, we have plenty of outside work that needs to be done around the church.

+ If your talent is office work, there is plenty you can be doing to help out Melissa around the church office. We also have a team that meets once a week just put out the newsletter.

+ If you have any passion for worship we can always use your “talents” as ushers and greeters and worship leaders.

+ If you like being together in fellowship, we can always use help with coffee hour hosts and church meals.

+ If you like calling your friends and writing notes, consider becoming a deacon? If your talent is “TALKING ON THE PHONE” – I can get you a copy of the church directory! J

I honestly believe there is something any and all of you can be doing in sharing a portion of the time and talents God has given you!

Stewardship of Financial Resources—Money

Stewardship of Money: I don’t feel the need to spend a lot of time preaching on this subject. This is the day we pass out pledge cards. Only one thing needs to be said. We can tithe our time and talents for use of the church. We can be perfect in worship attendance! We love this church and what this church does in the community. This fact: Our mere presence and work and love for the church doesn’t, by themselves, pay the bills.

We are adults. You know what this church means to you. The two main questions I ask you to consider in making your pledge to support the church in 2014:

(1) Will you continue to give as generously as you have in the past?

(2) Will you consider doing more?

It is pretty much known by most of our members that we have a small endowment fund that helps to support the operating budget of the church. These investments are also used to help out with emergency expenses.

A significant part of our operating budget comes from these investments. It is also important for you to know that at the current rate we are using these investments – they cannot/will not last forever! Simply, we are spending more from these funds than they are growing. The best way to slow the trend of being dependent on these investment funds is for each of us to do what we can to sustain or increase what you give. In fact, if you can, we really need to see “increases” in pledges to cover the losses in pledges that occur naturally.

I know that money is tight. I know that a large number of you are on fixed incomes. I also pretty much know that all of us can do more!

Which leads to my final point:

Stewardship of our Passions

We love this church. I will always love this church even though I am not longer going to be your pastor. This final point: Are we going to give to God from the bank of resources in helping this church move forward in serving Christ? Does what we give in the form of time and talents and money match with the “passion” and the “love” we have for this church and for each other?

I often say from this pulpit that stewardship is placing our gifts next to those things we truly value. It is that time of year to ask: Do I value what God has (and is) giving me through this church? What can I do in response to what God has given me?

The church needs your time and talents. The church needs your financial support. We give glory to God for all the blessings received and used to further God’s Kingdom on this earth and through the work of Christ’s church.

May God continue to bless us in the important work we have been called to be doing in remembering these words from Romans:

“For from God and through God and to God are all things. To God be the glory forever. Amen. Romans 11: 36

Joel 2: 28-32 [Also found in Acts 2: 14-17]

God’s Spirit Poured Out

28*….. I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,your old men shall dream dreams,and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female slaves,in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

30I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 32Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in MountZion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

MATHEW 6: 21

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….”

I. I WONDER?

I have been wondering……

In thinking about stewardship of EVERYTHING God has entrusted our care, I wonder…..

Are we not called to be stewards of our ideas, dreams and visions for the future!

We already talk a lot about stewardship of time and talents and money. Last week I shared a message on what it means to be stewards of God’s creation—this beautiful earth. But what about those things that drive us spiritually? In our thoughts? Are we not also called to be stewards of our ideas, dreams and visions?

FAMILIES:

Within the context of family, what do we hope and dream and envision for our children and grandchildren?

I think about these things knowing that in just a few months, in March, Nancy and I will become proud grandparents of a little baby boy—named Kenneth Thomas. We saw some more ultrasound pictures this week. The baby is about the size of a pop can, 1lb 1oz. We already have our hopes and dreams for his future…..the future of all our babies – all our children! We dream about HIS future! In what ways are we responsible along with Ken and Emily as stewards of all God has given us in life to help with his parents and their friends to build a solid FAITH foundation for him…

Of course we long and pray for happiness and stability with our families and friends. We dream of safe neighborhoods, good education, secure work and a comfortable home. We pray for health. Prayers emerge from our dreams of ‘peace on earth and goodwill toward all people!’ This idea I have been tossing around in thinking about today’s scripture: Young and old, in what ways are we called to be stewards of our ideas and dreams and visions in building and sustaining healthy families and communities for our babies—our children?

II. AND THE CHURCH?

As much as would like to continue dreaming and visioning what I hope for the future for my family and children, I now turn my attention to the ideas, dreams and visions we have for the church and our babies—our children who are the future of the church. Isn’t part of our stewardship of all life a call from God to find ways to translate our ideas, visions and dreams, into specific, tangible planning we do as Christ’s church?

A serious question we are all asking in this church: As membership declines and resources dissipate in part through the care of this large building: Are we going to let ‘time run out’ for this church?

Hopes and dreams and visions in hand, what can we be doing to create a framework of ideas envisioning a future for this church and our babies and their children who need the church in the future? Maybe not this particular church – but the church we know is important in helping our children grow believing in Jesus Christ?

Are you with me? I wonder? I wonder what comes next for us as we work to discern God’s will for us as the Warren Avenue Presbyterian Church? I wonder? What’s the church going to be for our children and grandchildren?

II. FIRST POINT: TOGETHER THE BODY OF CHRIST

As stewards of our ideas, dreams and visions: My first point is something we always carry with us – TOGETHERNESS. I pray that we will always work as stewards of all that God has given us to pass on to our children and their children the importance of being a Christian community—the “living Body of Christ”.

It’s like the ancient African proverb that says “It Takes a Village to raise a child”….. It takes just two or three gathered together in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord – to be the church!

The children’s song says, “I AM THE CHURCH, YOU ARE THE CHURCH, WE ARE THE CHURCH TOGETHER! ALL OF GOD’S CHILDREN ALL AROUND THE WORLD, YES, WE’RE THE CHURCH TOGETHER!”

Each of us as stewards of all that God has entrusted our care, TOGETHER, need to prayerfully and proactively consider what we are going to do with the ideas, dreams and visions we have been entrusted to care for in the name of our generous and gracious God.

While it is difficult knowing where God is going to take us in the next two or four or six or more years, we have certain responsibilities RIGHT NOW in discerning what God wants us to do and become in the future.

I wonder? Can we take more time in all of our meetings to think “outside the box” about the future? Together, what would God have us become in being creative, in using this building; in nurturing more collaborative relationships with others who share our values? If we don’t do this work, who will? It is our responsibility – all of us – to be the stewards of this wonderful idea—being Christ’s Church!

III. SECOND POINT: MISSION ADVOCACY

My second point, we have an established mission. Let’s study it. Let’s follow it. Let’s use it in planning for the future. Let’s dream of ways we can do the things we say we want and need to be doing

We have a mission statement that next to scripture gives us some directions on where we need to go.

The first bullet-point in our mission statement:

— REACHING UP TO GOD IN REVERENCE AND THANKSGIVING FOR THE MANY WAYS GOD HAS BLESSED US — As your pastor I hear from you loud and clear, worship is the primary and most important thing we do TOGETHER in REACHING UP TO GOD IN WORSHIP & PRAISE! In all of our wonderment and dreaming and planning: we are called to be stewards of worship that will continue to meet the spiritual needs of our children and their children….well into the future.

The second bullet-point:

— REACHING IN TO USE OUR HUMAN AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES TO NURTURE – in a variety of ways, the use of all the gifts and blessings God has entrusted our care—including this building. In thinking about this I would like to add to our mission Statement: “Using our spiritual resources” as well in envisioning and planning our future.

The third bullet-point in our mission statement:

n REACHING OUT TO SHARE THE LOVE OF GOD WITH OTHERS. We continue to be in this location as a church because it is from this corner of Warren and Millard we open our doors to the neighborhood. Is this part of our collective identity and vision for the future? I wonder? In what ways can we continue to open our doors to the community around us?

Through the Women of Colors and health Delivery we will be hosting in our building the “Parent Action for Healthy Kids” workshop down in the Gym…..finding ways to bring parents of middle and high school age youth into our building to learn and develop their parenting skills? This is important work we are already doing in REACHING OUT TO OTHER WITH WHAT WE VALUE – THE LOVE OF GOD!

IV. THIRD POINT: MINISTRY

In addition to the mission of the church, I envision something we will always want to dream about for the future: Meaningful, uplifting, enriching MINISTRY. MINISTRY! Consider this definition:

“Ministry is our using all the gifts God has given us as the “body of Christ” to serve our Lord in TOGETHER responding to the needs of each other and those in the larger community around us.”

I wonder? I wonder if good solid caring and compassionate ministry aren’t key component to becoming and sustaining the church of the future? I truly believe these ministries of care and compassion are part of our spiritual DNA we must pass on to future generations of Christians.

To this day, with over 147 years of dreaming and visioning behind us, it is our ministering to and with each other in times of need that will sustain us and keep us moving forward as Christ’s church…..in the end all that’s really important isn’t the structural church as much as the spiritual church and what we do together in loving and caring for each other!

VI. I WONDER….

We had a meeting back on June 3rd. Most of you were at this meeting. This was the gathering we had in the Memorial Lounge to talk about our future. This was a good time of conversation in sharing some of short-term visions and dreams.

At this meeting we put out some difficult facts….sobering details about where we are as a church. Some of these facts:

Fact One: We are a small church. Back on June 3rd we were a 90 member church. We are now an 87 member church. The fact remains, we are a ‘maturing’ congregation and “we cannot predict how quickly our membership may drop”[1](A side note: About half of this presbytery, 23 churches are our size or smaller—we are not alone! There is still one church, IthacaLafayette, that still worships with a congregation of 10 members, The Elkton/Chandler church with 21 members).

Fact Two: It is more and more difficult to make up pledges we are losing through the decline of membership—that’s why every pledge—every increased pledge that helps us make up what we are losing—is vitally important….helping us take dependency off investment funds…..investment funds that are fast being depleted if we keep on doing what we have been doing!

The good news that came out of that June 3rd meeting was the enthusiastic, passionate and positive things you had to say about this church!

Simply, this was an important meeting back on June 3rd because we are dreaming dreams and realistically envisioning our future. So now I wonder…..what kind of church can we become with fewer members, a large building, and a small budget? What kind of new things can be developed in collaboration with others? Are there new ways for us to think about fund-raising? What are others doing in situations like ours? There are lots of questions we need to be asking!

VII. WHAT IS THIS SERMON ALL ABOUT

So now I ask myself the critical question: What has this sermon been all about? As I said at the beginning of this message:

There are many things we need to be doing as stewards of our ideas, dreams and visions—in using them to create a path into the future….so we can do some serious planning for the future.

And this final point:

Absolutely critical to our future!

We need to have fun in what we are doing! We need to do things that bring smiles to our faces. We need the laughter. We need to be friends in doing the important work we have been called to do.

I am still having fun doing what I am doing. I enjoy being with you. I may not always like the work that needs to be done. I never really enjoy hearing the phone ring to share someone is hurting or ill….but I get a great deal of satisfaction in knowing this is what I have been called, ordained and trained to be doing as your pastor. I enjoy being your pastor. .

I enjoy the fact that NOBODY HAS GIVEN UP ON THIS CHURCH! We haven’t lost any pledges. People aren’t leaving this church because they don’t like what we are doing. I THANK GOD YOU’RE NOT WALKING OUT ON MY SERMONS—AT LEAST NOT YET!

I hope and pray that with all our dreaming and visioning—we make sure there is time to enjoy what God has given us – that we have fun doing Christ’s work. That’s why we are going to have a special Harvest dinner after worship next week…so we can have some fun together!

So now my friends—it’s time for us to put our faith next to our dreams and visions so that our sons and daughter can continue to prophesy, our more mature members can dream dreams, and the young adults in our midst see visions for the future – and TOGETHER WE HAVE FUN planning and serving our lord and savior Jesus Christ.

Presbyterian Pastor who has served churches in Iowa, Illinois and Michigan. Married with one daughter who lives with her family in Concord, CA. Having served the church for nearly forty years, plan now on relaxing and enjoying my wife and family.....doing things I never took time to do before!

Where the passionate are fed. Where the spiritually starving are nourished. “Artists,” she said, “are simply people who are passionate enough to imagine things that do not yet exist.” Seona Reid, Principal of Glasgow School of Art, graduation 2003